Indigo-dyeing vat.



` H. GHAUMAT. INDIGO DYBING VAT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 190s4 batmid Jan. l0, 1911,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nu Y Figi IWWESSLES H. CHAUMAT.

INDIGO DYEING VAT` APPLICATION rILBD AUG. 19, 1908,

Patented Jan. 10,1911. 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Mmm/e Alm/ms HENRI CIIAUMAT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

' INmGo-DYENG VAT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 1,0r 1911.

Application tiled August 19, 1908. Serial No. 449,247.

To all lL11/tom 'it may concern:

Be it known thatl l, HENRI CHAUMAT, a citizen of the Republic of France, and resident of laris,'France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Indigo-Dyeing V ats, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to a special vat for dyeing by means of indigo, wool previously freed from grease, or any other textile material, raw or spun, and even fabrics.

This special vatl has been invented for the practical application of the process of preparation of indi o baths by the well known electrolytic metiiod, fully described in U. S. Patent No. 885,978,` issued April '18, 1908. By means of the said electrolytic process highly concentrated solutions of white. indigo may be quicklyiprcpared. For many reasons, more particularly owing to the cost, it is advisable to separate the reparation of the said solutions, and the yemg proper.

' The dyeing is effected in a specialvat as `in an airtight manner.

hereinafter described, and the preparation of highly concentrated solutions of. white indigo in separate electrolytic vats. The solutions of white indigo obtained, are mixed, when it is desired to 'use them' either with hot boiling water alone or with hot: water to which a suitable y uanti of sulfites, bisulfites or sultds o alkalles or--of alkaline earths has been added, so as to deprive the said water of all Vthe oxygen in solution therein. The liquid obtained by the mixture is used direct for supplying the dyeing vata. v

The dyeing vat com rises'a cylindrical metal rece tacle cl at the top by a cover whic can be folded down and closed ilvithilp the said} vat are su r d rforate( bas ets in w iic a re )liietlisllee viiiiol or other materialato be dyed. A vacuum is produced in the said receptacle, and dilute solution of white indigo as previously mentioned, `is introduced throw'h a suction pi The i-mpregnation oi textile fibers Wit the solution of white indigo is thus effected in a vacuum. This results in a greatly improved impregnation. After being left in contact a sufficient length of time, the vat-is placed in communication with the atmosp ere and opened, the baskets are withdrawn, and the wool or other dyed materials are submitted to the ordinary finishing or oxidizing opepatica.

I n'addition to the improved im re ation of the fabrics with the solution o w ite inthe bath.` lT he introduction of the wool into' the bath. which necessarily carries into the liquid a great quantity of air, or simply 'the action of thev air on the surface, produces an oxidation of thewhitc indigo of the bath causing it to become insoluble blue indigo. The said blue indigo in suspension-in the bath is not Ii'xedvby the wool, a'nd has to be reduced again.'` :It is therefore necessary to work fermentation vats slowly, so asto leave the ferment s uicienttime to reduce the blue vindigo again, so that it is impossible to effect ka great number ofoperatipns in one day. In chemical rats, in order to avoid oxidation, it is necessary to employ the reducing agent in excess and to add the same during the treatment, which is an ex In the electrolytic process a ready referred to, a pure solution of white indigo containing" no reducing agent is used. Conseq'uently'all the blue indigo laced in suspension in an insoluble state in the bath by the oxidizing action of the air. must be collected in order to be again reduced in electrolytic rats. The bl'uc indigo is not a lost product, but it will he seen 'that dyeing in a vacuum. will result. in practically avoiding any oxidation of the indigo of the bath by the air. and therefore in doing away with repeated reduction and with the additional cost of labor iluid expenditure of electric energy for carrying on the operation. From another point of view. the following may also b e added: The utilization of pure and concentrated (solutions o f white indigo, absolutely without any deposit. permits, on the one hand toa considerable extent, the reduction of the volume of the dyeing liql uid. which considerably reduces the heating This advantagenaive matter.

liquids to be uscd in a `'uflicicntly con en- 'also with a manholeI (not shown). l`he boi'- trated state for reducing' the number of l operations to one or tWo even for the darkest color.

An example embodying the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the vat, Figa@ shows a portion of a horizontal section through the vat and water-gage, Fig. 3 is a-horizontal sectional view taken substantially midway of the vat, Fig.. 4 is partial vertical sectional view of the baskets, and Fig. 5 shows a. horizontal section of a basket. l

The vat comprises a body-portion D formed of double partitions c a of Steel plate reinforced by iron uprights. a? of I- shaped crosssection arranged around the circumference. This b0dyD is closed at the top by a cover A. hinged by means of a pin O and counterbalanced by a'weight B, as shown. The lever-arm A. is provided with a groove to guide a chain-supporting weight B, the profile of said lever-arm being' so de signed that the cover is practically balanced for all positions.

The top of the vat on which is placed theA cover A comprises a cast-iron cylindrical portion C carrying the tube R lead-mg to the vacuum, the water-gage Q, the 'ears c and the pin O. The vacuum-tube R is closed by a three-way valve, not shown. This tube it serves both for exhausting the ai'r from the vat; and also forermitting the air to reenter at the end otP the operation. A bronze tube I fixed in the cover A carries a thermometer J. The bottom Eof the vat also of cast-iron is furnished with two feet a', c' by which the vat is supported. Three tubes enter the vat through the bottom E, the tube P for solution of white indigo, the tube. N for the introduction of any special liquids which may be needed, and tube M for introducing steam. The tiibe l serves also for the removal of the liquid at the end of the operation, and for this purpose is supplied with a three-way cock (not shown). The bottom E is provided also with a central bearing-bore c2 passingr therethrough for the reception of a spindle ,r/Z carrying a conveyor-screw G. 'llubottom [i is provided tom E is also provided with inwardly pro. jecting lugs for supporting the baskets. '.llie coiWeyer-screw (l stands coaxial with the vat and is rotated by means of the wheel F suitably driven below the vat-. and by its rotation causes a constant upward flow ot' the liquid in the central tube. of the baskets. thus assuringr a continuous circulation ot' tbe liquids 'through the wool. 'l`he .said central tube is snrmountcd by a sheet-metal cone l( which acts to turn the liquids rising in the tube back upon the wool in the baskets. 'lhe cone K has a sheet-metal base provided with perforations, as shown, the perforations preferably increasing in diameter as they are more remote from the center of the base. whereby an even distribution of the flow of the liquids downward is assured.

Next to the wall of the vat is provided a' coil l-I in communication with the pipe M for the. purpose of circulating steam to raise the liquid in the vat to the required tempera.- turc.

The baskets-L, L', L containing the Wool have a bot-tom and top and lateral `Walls con. Sistiner of'coneentric cylinders, all formed of metal gratings, and t-lie wool is placed in the space between the two cylinders. The baskets are hooked to each other, as sliown in Fig. 4, in order that they may all be lifted "out of tlievat together. Thus the baskets remain superposed, coaxial with the vat,l the cylindrica space being occupied by the screw and the tube extending..y to the screw.

Having thus described my invention, I

' claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Pat-ent: 1.In combination, a' cylindrical vessel havin"r a lid at the top, a heating,l coil arpuigdd next .to the. cylindrical wall of the vessel. a circulating screw at; the axis of the vessel, baskets composed of an' outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall and 'adapted to occupy the space between said screw and said coil, and means'for ex-l haiisting` air from said vessel.

2. ln combination, a cylindrical vesselI having a lid at thetop. a heating coil arranged next to the cylindrical wall of the vessel, a circulating screw at the axis of the vessel, baskets composed of an outer cylindrical' wall aiul an inner cylindrical wally and adapted to occupy the space between said screw and said coil, means for introducin.;lr a liquid into the vessel, and'ineans for holding said baskets together and means for exhausting air from the vessel.

Il. ln combination, a cylindrical vessel having an open upper end, a coiinterbalanced lid for the lopen end, a helical heat-y ing coil arrangml next to the cylindricalI wall of the vessel, a rotatable screw at the axis of the vessel. a series of siipei-posed per 'lorated baskets comprising 'inner and outerA concentric walls and occupying the space between the coil aiul the screw, means for detachably holding said baskets in superposed position, and means for exhausting air from the vessel.

L ln eoml'iination, a cylindrical vessel having an open upper end, a counterbalanced lid for the open end, a helical heating coil arranged next tothe cylindrical wall of. the vessel, a rotatable screw at the axisof the vessel, a series ofsuperposed perforated baskets comprising innerl and outer concenn-ic Walls am@ @ccupying th@ space befween the coil and *the sm'e'w., means im holding said baskes im superposl psfaftin, :1 deeeingr um@ at the um of said scim, means for introducing liquida im() im 'veesse Strenghnn'gs; Bibs im @he ousde mp ma vari-- sel anzi means fm? exhausing 355mm he Vesse. 

